Gipson Right? Sparta Going in a Fantastic Direction? Vote here

Some of use have been scratching our heads after Lynn Gipson told the TV media Sparta was moving in a fantastic direction. Could be he is right.

 

Yes, yes, definitely moving in some direction! Right direction, ahh, wow, that's a tough call. I mean they have a PLAN. As Sundance once said, "you keep thinking there Butch, that's what you do best." Gipson sort of looks like Butch, I guess.

 

Lynn ( The ATA talking Head) Gipson is throwing around numbers that have never and will never be realizied at the WSRC in Sparta, Illinois ... The continual gross exageration of money being generated by the existance of the WSRC is what will kill them a lot quicker than being honest and up front about what the State can expect ... He stated the WSRC generates 20/30 million for the area in and about Sparta, Illinois ... I looked at the yealy schedule and cannot see that being close to possible, a few wedding receptions more will not change much ... The ATA claimed 100,000 visitors to the Grand when it was in Vandalia and presented those numbers to those who came there from the State of Illinois ... The place was packed and they had no where near 10,000 people there much less 100,000 ... This was all done on gross misrepresentation and has costed the State over $22,000,000 dollars in lost tax dollars over the past 10 years ... Deception, and exageration ain't going to get it done, best honor up and tell it like it is and live with the outcome ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Gipson voted?

 

Wow, looking at the Illinois budget proposal is showing a really distorted picture for the WSRC, one side making ridiculous claims of major income (10/12 million)generated by the facility and the other saying the facility has not made a dime in 10 plus years in existence which has been verified ... Lynn Gipson may be asked where he got the stated income he made about 20/30 million dollars generated by the facility so they can be verified or he will have to admit the numbers are grossly inflated and nothing more than a guesstimate ... The state now says it costs 3 million dollars to operate and maintain the facility, the facility generates 1.1 million dollars (verified) so the 1.9 million dollar differential is what the state loses by keeping the facility open ( 3 million to break even ) ... The more you read and or listen to the worse it looks ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

2 votes for "fantastic"

I thought there would have been at least 4 more

 

Lynn Gipsons job at the WSRC is only worth $50,000, but being overpaid by $60,000+ I will take that job for $40,000 a year

 

How are things going there at Soarta? Weather nice? Is the mob all prepped and ready to go? Battering rams, catapults, rocks, slings and arrows all laid out for the siege upon the meeting?

 

WPT,

Did the ATA ever actually claim 100,000 annual visitors to Vandalia and present those figures to representatives from IL? Just a question, since I'm not sure I recall the info ever came from the ATA, although it was spread around on the internet. I certainly could be wrong, just wondering what the facts are.

 

There was talk about 100,000 plus shooters and visitors prior to the deal becoming reality ... Not sure but if the State of Illinois used that figure they got hosed ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Yeah, but I'm not sure the ATA ever made those claims in negotiations with anyone. I seem to recall it was something that gained traction on the internet, but don't recall that ATA really ever made the claims. Maybe it was something quoted in a newspaper?

 

There was talk of 4000 to 5000 shooters per event and 50000 to 100000 shooters and guests attending every year. The closer it got to opening the crazier the number got. Everyone got swept up in the thought of having a huge facility that would become the envy of all. I'm sure everyone involved in those days took a very optimistic look at everything.

 

"Build it and they will come." Guess that is BS too. Of course it doesn't when the 10-15,000 plus Ohio ATA shooters don't show.

 

Yeah, "there was talk of ..." , those huge numbers, but from what source? I'm seeing claims the ATA was making the statements, with implications of underhandedness, but I'm looking for someone to back that claim up. There seems to be a lot of "talk" being thrown around as fact, when I'm not sure that is the case. In a deal like this, IL would have done its own due diligence about the numbers, not relying on internet chats or second hand comments.

 

your talking about 10/12 years ago, your kidding right ..? Been so much since who can keep track ..? WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Then why do keep quoting them as being facts? I've heard you say those numbers more than anyone.

 

My point exactly.

 

Yes, 10-12 years ago, but yammer,yammer, yammer, who, what, where was suppose to be, who's to blame, shoulda, coulda, woulda, blah blah blah, blah.

 

I must of been the only one that remebers hearing them figures, I cannot give exact days and dates but you know they were said also ... It was stated on an other place from long, long ago that 100,000 shooters and visitors are expected , now if you had ever been to the Grand in Vandalia you know thats totally unadulterated BS, because it was like sardines with less than 10,000 people if they ever got that many on the grounds at once or on any given day ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

With the Grand at Vandalia the crowds and attendance looked huge, personnel from Illinois attended and were impressed with the "crowds", the people from Illinois even remarked how crowded Vandalia was you couldn't move without bumping into people. Because the Grand was compacted it looked well attended with many participants and spectators. It was well attended compared to the attendance at Sparta. The Grand attendance at Vandalia was like a magician and their many illusions.

 

Maybe since most of Ohio boycotts Sparta the illusion is also less because Ohio shooters are wider?

 

There's a difference between recalling something "you heard" or read online a decade ago, and claiming that the ATA was the provider of that information. Personally, I do recall reading those numbers online, but I don't recall seeing them in anything from the ATA; actually I think I saw it on Ts.com so honestly I would never try to accuse someone (ATA) of making misleading statements based on something I think I recall from over a decade ago. That's just me though, and again, I could be wrong about it.

 

Unfortunately at this time most of what was reported at that time 2002-2004 from individual discussions has not been retained in a form that could be reproduced. Anyone that was around at the time heard many stories some true some as repeated many times changed.
It all boils down to the fact that the ATA could not get enough support from the City of Dayton to remain in the same approximate area in Ohio, for some reason even the local merchants could not convince the politicians that the Grand in Vandalia produced many financial benefits for the area. It now appears that many of the businesses that benefited from the Grand participants are no longer in business. So much for hindsight. History is what it is and can't be changed, hopefully we will not be going thru a relocation again after ten years in Sparta.

 

AZCO

On occasion I enjoy your posts. Even the goofy stuff. Then you said this:

Ohio is 4th in attendance at Sparta. Illinois boycotts Sparta. Comparatively your state boycotts Sparta.

Silly statement....even from you.

 

FG,

I am just going by what people post on this site, Ohio boycotts Sparta. Am I being lied to?

 

I searched, "Ohio boycotts Sparta.".

The only thread that comes up is this one.

 

What's wrong on vote poll only a few votes cast, only 47 votes

 

Ah, because it is not important ? Poster on ignore? Most of posters at the Grand?

 

I have talked to a few friends who are at the Grand and claim this is their last year, they say the attendance is about the same as last year which was down from the year before ... The camping rates are going up considerably which can't be a good move with so much up in the air ...

Sparta's (staple) WalMart is doing over the top sales as usual ... I'm guessing all of those who say they will never shop or set foot in a WalMart store have gone againt their convictions ... Thanks for your support and if WalMart don't have it, you probably don't need it ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

We are all doomed, oh whoa is us. The end is near.

 

Lynn it is growing smaller by leaps and bounds, and headed for the direction of destruction.

Your Job is being Disolved/Eliminated. ATA is saving over a $100,000 by eliminating it.


GB DLS

 

I think Lynn Gipson is the "Fall Guy"for the ATA, gets paid well to take the abuse and continue to look and present himself as a fool ... If you do not read the papers and follow the news you will never have anything to get excited over ... Zanax helps and has the very soothing effect ...

 

Where did hear his job is being dissolved?

Are you saying the Grand is growing smaller by leaps and bounds? Where are you seeing those numbers? The numbers I've seen posted look to be about average since the move.

 

theloudone

Only ATA active members and supporters are required to provide reams of documentation for numbers that are self evident. ATA haters and deniers on the other hand only have to make a ridiculous claim for it to be true, no matter how silly it is. Haven't you figured that out by now?

Examples:

ATA supporter. "There are 28,000 ATA members"

ATA hater: "The ATA lost 400,000 members since the ATA moved to Sparta."

 

I am waiting for one of these guys to break the 1,000,000 member mark in their illusions. I am sure many of them can remember that year at the Grand that Vandalia ran 7,500 squads on 40 traps and Remington was shipping the targets fresh out of the ovens to keep the event running. The trap boy had to spray paint the hot targets as he was setting them on the old Winchester Handsets throwing "real targets". Everyone was watching this happen from the Beer Tent where daily there were over 100,000 people having a beer.

 

How many would you describe as active members?

 

Do you have an annual average book? Shows averages of all active shooters for the past season.

 

AZCOTRAP, You need to be a member of the ATA to get the average book.

 

Oops. I forgot.

 

As per H1N1 report in the meeting.
Only 25% of the handicap shoots have 25 shooters.
We have things going in a "fantastic direction"....Lynn Gipson 2015

 

That would be considered a crowd by many of the shooters at the Grand, most have never seen a real crowd if they have only gone to Sparta ...

 

Your an expert because you have shot at both Vandalia and Sparta. That is correct isn't it?

 

I gave my word before the WSRC materialzed and in the talking phases that I would never (As In NEVER) shoot there , have actually turned down mulitple offers from some very fine and genuine folks to pay for targets, dinners, drinks, etc if I would come to the WSRC and shoot ... I am a man of my word and stand by my convictions steadfastly ... Yes, I did shoot at Vandalia but thats all in the past and nothing more than many good memories, the absolute worse time I ever had at Vandalia was when I asked my wife ( now EX wife) to come with me ... I make it a point to have a great time even then, though she was not happy for one second of any given day and wanted to leave from the time we pulled in ... I would have the car ready and leave when she went into the shower, only had to deal with her and her nonsense when I got back to the Dayton North Holiday Inn which is where I stayed every year I was there ... Room 101 on the poolside, remember it like it was yesterday but cannot remember my ex wifes middle name ... How fast we forget ...

Not, that its needed but I will reaffirm what I said back then and I will NEVER shoot in Sparta, or support Illinois in anyway if I can possibly help it ...
Have a nice day and be carefull out there ..... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Voting is a bit lopsided. Was Gipson limited to 3 votes?